CalFresh Emergency Grocery Card Program

In early November, the San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA) issued a GiveCard to San Francisco CalFresh households. The GiveCard is a one-time prepaid grocery card to help people buy healthy food and reduce financial stress in advance of the holiday season.  

This emergency grocery aid program is a partnership with Mayor Daniel Lurie, the Crankstart Foundation, and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
 

Program Update:

  • In addition to regular CalFresh benefits, the one-time GiveCard is still available to San Francisco CalFresh households.
  • GiveCards must be activated by December 31, 2025, and the funds must be used by March 31, 2026.
  • GiveCard use does NOT affect your CalFresh benefit amount or eligibility.
  • If you were not notified by letter about the GiveCard but believe you are eligible for one, please call SFHSA at (855) 355-5757.  

For GiveCard details: See our Frequently Asked Questions.
For Partners: Outreach materials and a program toolkit are available on our Community Partners page. 


How to access the GiveCard

CalFresh households received a letter that includes a unique activation code and instructions on how to access their virtual card immediately or to request a physical card in the mail. Mailed cards take five to seven business days to arrive.  

If you did not receive a letter but believe you are eligible for a GiveCard, please call SFHSA at (855) 355-5757.  

How to unlock or unfreeze your physical GiveCard before using it
If you created an account to order your card, log in to your account and unfreeze the card. If you called SFHSA to order a physical card, watch this video to unfreeze your card or follow the steps below:  

  1. Go to givecard.com/foodsf.
  2. At the bottom of the screen, click"Did you receive your physical card and need to unlock it?”
  3. Near the bottom of the next screen, click “Do you have a CalFresh case number?”
  4. Don't know your CalFresh Case ID? Check the front of your EBT card. Under your name is the 7-digit Case ID number following the first two characters.
  5. Enter your CalFresh Case ID and the primary applicant’s date of birth.
  6. Click “Continue”.
  7. On the next screen above the “Back” button, find “Your card is frozen, click here to unfreeze it”. Click the word “here” in blue.
  8. On the new window that opens, enter the GiveCard Card ID, which is the 10-digit code on the back of the GIveCard underneath the 16-digit card number. It usually contains a combination of letters and numbers.
  9. Click “Unfreeze Card”.
  10. The next screen should say “Success. Your card is unfrozen and ready to use. You can use this card for grocery store purchases only.”

How to prevent fraud 

CalFresh recipients will be prompted to provide information that is unique to them to activate and access their grocery card. Clients will never be asked to give their Social Security number or bank account information to access their card.  GiveCard, the grocery card vendor, will provide customer and fraud prevention support.   
 

Check back for updates

SFHSA will provide more information as it becomes available. 

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